• Are articulated vehicles fitted with automatic couplings, not having
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air brakes and now operating with 10-ton pay loads, expected to be down-rated under a new regulation?
AIf you are referring to vehicles not
designed initially to carry a 10-ton payload then the answer would be that they are expected to be down-rated under the new regulations. This will not be from January 1 1968 but from the time the vehicle goes for its first test, when it will be plated.
However, there is a factor which may force operators to carry less payload then previously from January 1 next because vehicles will then have to comply with braking regulations at all times when on the road.
If, however, you are referring to vehicles now operating within the manufacturers' weight limit then as far as we know there are no plans to down-rate particular types. Provided that the outfit you mentioned can give 40 per cent for the handbrake when fully laden it will meet the requirement in 1968.
There is a chance that certain models will be down-rated in gross weight when they come up for plating. The Minister of Transport is preparing lists of all models known to be in use which will stipulate the gross weight for plating, and tests are being carried out on examples of all those included. This work will show the Ministry any model that cannot meet the figures with the brakes in good condition, and whenever this is the case a lower rate than the maker's recommended figure will be given.